NEW YORK (NBC News) Many of America’s restaurants are adding more layers, more combos, and more courses to their meals, allowing calorie counts to rise without customers thinking twice.

“We’re in the middle of an obesity epidemic and we’re just seeing restaurant chains keep piling it on,” Lindsay Moyer, Center For Science In The Public Interest, says.

The Center For Science In The Public Interest has released its annual X-treme Eating Awards to chain restaurants and every year since 2007, The Cheesecake Factory has made the cut.

“The Cheesecake Factory’s fried chicken and waffles benedict is like eating two pounds of Marie Callender’s chicken pot pie, topped with half a stick of butter, and a quarter cup of maple syrup,” Moyer says.

In response, The Cheesecake Factory released a statement saying, “Many of our guests come in and want to celebrate and not be concerned with calories. Others want to share their dish, and we love it when guests share”

Beginning next year, chain restaurants with 20 or more outlets will be required to include calorie counts on their menus and menu boards.

“America’s restaurant chains are serving up meals that seem engineered to promote diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and strokes,” Moyer told TODAY.